A pair of workers in PPE repoint a landscape wall from a scaffold.
Conservation work at Warley Place in Brentwood, Essex. © Historic England Archive View image record DP313190
Conservation work at Warley Place in Brentwood, Essex. © Historic England Archive View image record DP313190

Heritage Specialist Training and Qualifications

Working with older and historic buildings requires a specific set of skills and expertise, so it is important contractors and craftspeople have training and qualifications to prove their competence. This section provides information on current training, qualifications and other skills development opportunities for early career and existing professionals in heritage construction skills.

Research has shown that around 89% of companies working on traditional buildings consider themselves general construction firms not heritage specialists. Historic England is keen that content on the characteristics of traditional (pre-1919) buildings is included in all construction training.

Training and Qualifications

These heritage specialist qualifications and standards are designed by industry. These include qualifications aimed at addressing current issues affecting the heritage sector, such as training on energy efficiency measures. Please note that Historic England are not directly involved with the delivery of these qualifications.

The main heritage specialist qualification is currently the Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Heritage Skills (Construction). This qualification has a number of pathways which cover many different construction trades, and content which focuses on heritage specific skills and training.

Further opportunities to undertake work-based training in heritage skills can be found on our Traditional Skills Training Programmes page.

Energy Efficiency Measures for Older and Traditional Buildings

Climate change is increasing maximum summer temperatures, the volume and intensity of rain and storm events, the direction of prevailing weather and external humidity and sea levels. By transitioning to net zero, the UK is taking an important step in reducing carbon emissions and our impact on the planet.

There are approximately 6.5 million traditional pre-1919 buildings in England, Scotland and Wales, roughly 20–30% of all buildings in the UK, and the most sustainable building is the one that already exists. Therefore, it is vital that these buildings are included in climate change mitigation strategies to help tackle the causes of climate change and ensure our historic environment is adapted to remain resilient to climate change impacts.

The Level 3 Award in Energy Efficiency Measures for Older and Traditional Buildings is one of several retrofit qualifications required for certain retrofit roles and funding pathways under PAS. It is currently the only award that focusses on buildings of traditional construction. It aims to give learners an understanding of how older and traditional buildings perform; the suitability of energy efficiency measures (EEMs) for their given construction type; the heritage considerations that may impact decisions about the introduction of energy efficiency measures; and how to evaluate, justify and implement options to improve their energy efficiency.

The qualification provides essential learning for anyone assessing, coordinating, designing, or installing retrofit measures in traditionally constructed buildings. Visit the awarding organisations’ websites to find a training provider:

Course Handbook

Historic England, Cadw and Historic Environment Scotland have developed a handbook for learners undertaking this qualification. It is a useful resource to support guided learning from a registered training provider. It can also be used independently of the award for those looking to improve their technical understanding of retrofit for traditional construction.

Read the handbook

Promoting a Skilled and Qualified Workforce

Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) cards can demonstrate that the holder has the right skills to work on historic and traditional (pre-1919) buildings. Gold Skilled Worker cards are available for a range of traditional building skills occupations. A CSCS card may be required to work on certain heritage projects.

Completion of the Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Heritage Skills (Construction) qualifies you to apply for the Gold Skilled Worker CSCS card.

You can find out more information about the card, qualification and training requirements, and other information on applying on the CSCS website.